Sibusiso Zuma

Sibusiso Zuma

Personal information
Full name	Sibusiso Wiseman Zuma[1]
Date of birth	23 June 1975
Place of birth	Durban, South Africa
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Striker, Attacking midfielder, Right winger
Club information
Current team	Supersport United
Number	11
Youth career
	Mighty Pa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1995–1998	African Wanderers	71	(29)
1998–2000	Orlando Pirates	70	(37)
2000–2005	FC København	145	(40)
2005–2008	Arminia Bielefeld	69	(8)
2008–2009	Mamelodi Sundowns	12	(1)
2009–2010	FC Nordsjælland	13	(1)
2010–2011	Vasco da Gama	27	(11)
2011–2015	Supersport United	39	(6)
National team^‡
1998–2008	South Africa	67	(13)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 July 2011. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 July 2011

Sibusiso Wiseman Zuma (born 23 June 1975 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal) is a former South African professional football player playing for Supersport United in the Premier Soccer League.

Career

Zuma started his career for South African clubs Mighty Pa, African Wanderers and Orlando Pirates. In June 2000, he joined Danish club FC København, where he blossomed as a player.^[2] He helped the club win its second Danish football championship and was voted into the club's hall of fame for his outstanding efforts in the 2004–05 season, and in 2001 Zuma was tied for 29th place for the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award. After five and a half years at FC København, Zuma was sold to German Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld for one million euros in July 2005.^[3]

FC København (FC Copenhagen)

In 2006 Zuma was voted number one by the fans among the greatest profiles to have ever played in FC Copenhagen.^[4]

According to Zuma he played his best football at FC Copenhagen which still feels like his second home. He enjoys legend status at FC Copenhagen as the best player ever to play in the club. Zuma thinks he owes everything to FC Copenhagen and that he enjoyed every day he was at the club. It is a part of his life that he will never forget. Zuma also tells that "South Africans will tell you that Zuma is a king in Denmark".^[5]

FC Copenhagen won its second Superliga championship in 2001 after almost a decade without becoming champions, winning 3–1 in the last New Firm match of the season, at the Parken Stadium. The 2–0 goal was a bicycle kick by Zuma, who received the ball at his chest, where he bounced it in the air, and in the same motion executed the overhead kick, volleying the ball into the far corner, out of Brøndby keeper Mogens Krogh's reach. This was voted the Danish goal of the year,^[6] and was voted the best Superliga goal of the decade in December 2009.^[7]

On 3 March 2013, Zuma was in episode three out of six about the transformation history of FC Copenhagen's mascot Løven Leo (The Lion Leo) and the regaining of his roar which he had lost. Zuma called for Leo and told him to follow him. Zuma helped Leo to find out who he really was and said: "You are a lion. A Copenhagen lion. You must never forget it, but you must train to become the king of Copenhagen". Then Zuma yelled to Leo: "Pass the ball" and Zuma made a bicycle kick which was a retake on his famous ditto which he scored for FC Copenhagen. The ball hit a caveman which was dressed in yellow and blue – the colours of FC Copenhagens arch rivals Brøndby IF. The video ended with Zuma telling Leo that he has done well but that this is only the beginning. Zuma then said, "go Leo, go and become the lion you were meant to be. Do it for your fans. Do it for the players. Do it for me Zuma. But come back one day because it's kind of lonely here." In the video Zuma was the one that gave Leo back his confidence by training him.^[8]

In 2013, Zuma's bicycle kick was voted the greatest moment in the history of FC Copenhagen.^[9] A monument was made to honour the greatest moment and thereby Zuma's bicycle kick. Zuma himself was invited by FC Copenhagen and attended Parken on 18 August 2013 where the unveiling of the monument took place.^[10][11] The monument was a relief of Zuma's bicycle kick.

On the day of the unveiling of the relief Zuma said: "It's an honour to be here. I love those guys. I love FC Copenhagen fans to dead. I am amazingly happy. It's one of the best days in my life".^[12]

Mamelodi Sundowns

On 21 June 2008 Zuma signed for Mamelodi Sundowns.^[13] He was released in the summer of 2009 and in October 2009 he had a trial period with FC Nordsjælland, eventually being signed by the club.

FC Nordsjælland

On 16 October he signed a one-year contract with the Danish club FC Nordsjælland. On 8 November 2009 Zuma scored his first goal for FC Nordsjælland in the club's 1–0 win over SønderjyskE.^[14] When FC Nordsjælland visited FC København on 24 March 2010 in a Danish League match, Zuma played well and was substituted to a large majority of the FC København supporters applauding him. A distinctly touched Zuma claimed that the home supporters were incredible.^[15]

International career

He has represented South Africa 67 times. He played for his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Zuma was the captain of South African National team at the 2006 African Cup of Nations tournament.

Sibusiso Zuma Foundation

In 2010, Zuma opened the Sibusiso Zuma Foundation which works with young kids with HIV.^[5] The foundation also works with "prevention and education about HIV/Aids" and "the prevention of HIV infection and/or the distribution of information relating to HIV/Aids".^[16]

Zuma says: "I'm just trying to help a lot of communities here in South Africa. Especially the poor ones."^[5]

Background

He is also known as "Zuma the Puma" to the club's supporters and "Puma" appears on his shirt instead of "Zuma" in the Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 video game.

Other nicknames while he played in FC Copenhagen was Sibu or just Zuma.^[4]

Incident

On 25 June 2007, it was reported that Zuma had been involved in an incident in his home country South Africa.^[17] After an altercation there were allegations that he threatened to shoot a group of men at a party in Kokstad. The local police investigated the situation, and Zuma was prevented from leaving the country for a period, but no charges were made.^[18]

References

1. Sven Gartung (7 September 2005). "Aus dem WM-Test wird die Abschiedsvorstellung des Trainers" (in German). faz.net. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
2. "FCK's history 1999–2000" (in Danish). fck.dk. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
3. "Zuma skifter til Arminia Bielefeld" (in Danish). 31 May 2005. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
4. "De tre største" (in Danish). fck.dk. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
5. "F.C. København legenden: Zuma". F.C. København. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
6. "Season 2000/01 – Winning the championship...at last". F.C. Copenhagen. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2007.
7. "Her er årtusindets bedste mål" (in Danish). Tipsbladet. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
8. "LEO - Episode 3" (in Danish). fck.dk. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
9. "Det største øjeblik: Afsløringen" (in Danish). fck.dk. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
10. "Det største øjeblik: Zuma fortæller om drømmemålet" (in Danish). fck.dk. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
11. "Zuma-monumentet afsløres mod AGF" (in Danish). fck.dk. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
12. "Se Zumas store dag i PARKEN" (in Danish). fck.dk. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
13. "Zuma signs for Sundowns". Kick Off. 21 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
14. "bold.kampdata" (in Danish). bold.dk. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
15. "Følelsesladet Zuma: Det rører mig" (in Danish). bold.dk. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
16. "Sibusiso Zuma Foundation". olivershouse.co.za. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
17. "Sibusiso Zuma may face criminal charges". Mail & Guardian. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
18. "Fodboldspilleren Zuma i skuddrama" (in Danish). nyhederne.tv2.dk. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2013.